Package for cigarettes and the like



Nov. 15, 1966 D. B. KENNARD PACKAGE FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Filed 00t- 29, 1964 INVENTOR D. KE N N AR D ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,zs5,4os PACKAGE FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Doris B. Keunard, 7130 33rd St. N., St. Petersburg, Fla. Filed Oct. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 407,330 1 Claim. (Cl. 20G-48) The present invention relates to an improved container for cigarettes or the like comprising a so-called soft pack having a strip carrying a book of matches attached there to which forms a closure for the soft pack and permits the matches and their striker, inserted inside the pack, to be protected from moisture.

More particularly, the invention relates to an improved soft pack cigarettes package comprising a relatively soft paper wrapper in the form of a rectangular package, hereinafter referred to as -a pack, and containing cigarettes packed longitudinally therein and enclosed in a metal foil inside the wrapper. The closed paper pack is wrapped in a transparent waterproof sheath, such as cellophane or plastic material or the like, and a strip of cardboard or sheet material of suitable strength is attached at one end portion thereof to the inside of one of the two larger area sides of the paper wrapper or to the inside wrapper or both, such `as the back side, an intermediate section of the strip projecting from the top of the pack and arranged to extend forwardly and overlay the top of the pack to form a closure for the pack after it has been initially opened and the other end portion being insertable inside the front side of the pack between that side and the foil enclosing the cigarettes and having a cluster or book of cardboard matches carried thereon on the side facing the inside of the pack, the extreme end of the match carrying portion of the strip extending beyond the matches and forming a lead tab for inserting the strip into the pack as described so that the match carrying portion may be inserted along the forward side of the pack between the side and the cigarette foil, the intermediate portion of the strip is scored transversely thereof so as to provide fold lines by which it may be deflected to form an arch over the top of the pack when the matches are inside the pack whereby the finger tips ofy a person may be inserted beneath the opposite sides of the strip to facilitate withdrawal of the match carrying portion of the strip from the pack to open the pack for access to the contents thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will vbecome apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred cigarette pack embodying the invention, read in conjunction with the accompanying sheet of drawings `forming a part of this specification, and in which PIG. l is a perspective view of a full, sealed soft pack of cigarettes embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is -a fragmentary perspective view of the soft pack opened;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2, except that the view is taken of the opposite side of the pack and with the strip carrying the matches folded in a position for striking a match;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views of the soft pack similar to that shown in FIG. 2 but showing the match carrying strip in different positions during closing of the pack; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the soft pack taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 4, ybut showing the match strip in the back closing position, certain parts being shown exaggerated in dimensions.

Referring to the drawings, a soft pack of cigarettes is shown at 10 and which comprises a conventional, relatively soft paper wrapper 11 formed of a sheet of paper folded to provide a thin rectangular box-like pack having broad, rectangular front and back walls 11a and 11b, and nar- "ice row and high side walls 11C. Other suitable material could be used to form the pack. lCigarettes C are enclosed in the pack and `are wrapped in a metal foil sheet 12 folded in a rectangular box-like form which ts inside the pack and provides a closed bottom and a centrally open top.

Matches 14 are carried on a cardboard strip or panel 15 which has a substantial end portion or section 15a thereof glued or otherwise secured to the inside of the back wall 11b andan intermediate section 15b projecting above the back wall, and a section 15C extending beyond the intermediate section. SectionlSb is bounded by fold lines a .and b and is of a length to extend from the back side of the front side of the pack and thereby overlie the top of the pack. Scores c, d, e, and f are formed across section 15b intermediate fold lines a and b and facilitate arching of the section after initial opening of the pack although the material of the strip is relatively stiff and also renders the central portion of the strip flexible for convenience in striking matches, as described hereinafter.

Section 15c is adapted to extend from fold a downwardly along the inside lof wall 11a and the adjacent foil 12, and the end portion of the section extending beyond a fold score g is preferably tapered as at 15d to facilitate insertion of the strip into the pack.

Matches 14 comprises a block Iof safety matches commonly available and which comprise a cardboard Ibase 14a having individual match sticks cut therefrom the ends of which have match hea-ds thereon. This form of matches is well known and readily available. Base 14a is attached to section 15C adjacent the outer end thereof so that the match heads are extended toward intermediate section 15b of strip 15 but short of fold b.

A safety match striker 16 is applied to the side of section 15e` opposite the side to which the matches are attached so that the matches cannot be ignited by ying sparks from struck matches.

After the soft pack is filled with the foil wrapped cigarettes at the factory, the pack 11 is tightly wrapped in a transparent sheet of cellophane 17 which is folded over the ends of the pack and sealed in the usual manner. A tab 17a attached to cellophane 17 is provided by which the cellophane wrapper can be torn about the top portion thereof so that the entire top of the paper pack 11 can be exposed above the top edge 17b of the opened cello phane wrapper. This arrangement is well known.

At the time cellophane wrapper 17 is placed on pack 11, section 15a` of match strip 15 is inside the pack between front wall 11a and the adjacent foil 12 and section 15b lies flat across the top of the pack and is so held lby the cellophane. After the top of the cellophane wrapper is removed to open the pack, the sides of section 15b can be raised and the section arched by bending along the scoring and the match carrying section 15e may be easily withdrawn by inserting the finger tips beneath the opposite arched sides and the strip folded rearwardly to expose the top of the foil enclosure for the cigarettes which provides an opening for removal of the individual cigarettes, as seen in FIG. 2. A match may then be torn from base 14a and with strip 15 placed :as shown in FIG. 3, with a finger extended across the strip on the opposite side of the striker 16, for example, the match can be ignited on the striker. The pack may then be conveniently closed by folding match carrying strip 15 rearwardly on fold a, forwardly on fold b and downwardly on fold g, as shown in FIG. 4, which enables tab 15d to be inserted `between the Vfoil and front wall of the pack, as seen in FIG. 6. In this position, strip 15 effectively closes the top of the pack to prevent loss of cigarettes or loose tobacco from the pack and the rigidity of the strip provides resistance to crushing of the soft paper pack 11, thereby protecting the cigarettes'from deforming when the pack is carried ina pocket or pocketbook. The block of matches forms Isoft pack type cigarette container has been improved to provide a convenient match supply and striker which are maintained -dry and which also provides a closure for soft type cigarettes containers thereby eliminating the objection to the conventional soft pack of spilling tobacco crumbs fand cigarettes from the pack once it is opened. In addition, the match carrying strip serves `as a strengthening element for the pack Without encumbering the pack or adding significantly to its cost of manufacture. Although but one form of the invention has been shown, other modifications, adaptations, -an'd substitutions could be made, all falling within the scope of the claim which follows:

Iclaim: v A pack for cigarettes or the like comprising a soft paper sheet or the like folded to form a rectangular container for receiving cigarettes longitudinally therein and having relatively wide opposed front :and rear walls interconnected by relatively narrow side Walls, 'a cardboard like strip having an end secti-on attached to the inside at the rear wall and having Aan intermediate section extending from the top of said rear wall and adapted to overlie and substantially close the top of said pack, said intermediate section having a first fold at one' end parallel to and adjacent the top edge of said :back wall and :a second fold at the other end and adapted to coextend with the top edge of said front wall, a free end section extending from said second fold, said free end section adapted to extend into said pack between said front wall and the cigarettes in said pack and, a block of cardboard matches attached to said -free end section on the side thereof facing the inside of said pack when said free end section is inside said pack between said front wall and said cigarettes, said matches having la common base section attached to said free end section so that the matches project towards but short of said lsecond fold line, and a match striker attached to said free end section on the side opposite the side to which said matches are attached and adjacent the outer end of said end section, whereby said matches and striker may he inserted inside said pack and retain said intermediate portion over the top of said pack to form a substantial closer for said pack, said intermediate portion having a plurality of scores extending transversely thereof and lying parallel to and between said 4iirst and second fold whereby said intermediate portion may be arched.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

M. L. RICE, Assistant Examiner. 

